20 Beach Books for Children to Kick Off the Summer

We know by now that Scaredy Squirrel only feels safe when he’s at home in his nut tree, with his defenses, his emergency kit and his back-up plans at the ready.

So even though the sun is shining and it’s time for a vacation, Scaredy does not want to go to the beach — that vast, frightening place where a squirrel could get stranded.

(Not to mention other hazards such as sea monsters, falling coconuts, seagulls, pirates and lobsters.)

In this book you’ll learn all about these and other crustaceous creatures, for whom a shell is just the right sort of home.

A house is a home for you, a nest is a home for a bird, and a cave is a home for a bear. But for some animals a shell is a home.

Snails and turtles and crabs and clams all have shells that act as their homes and protect them from harm.

A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam – anything floating that has been washed ashore.

Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds.

There’s no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share … and to keep.

Rhythmic language guides children through the passage of a single day of fun at the seaside — splashing, playing in the waves, boating, fishing, identifying wildlife, and more.

The beach, an iconic fixture of many children’s summers, is artfully celebrated in this board book.

Designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for the environment’s natural wonders, the book features a multicultural group of people experiencing all that the beach has to offer. 

Dive in and discover the watery world covering most of our earth and the amazing wildlife in its depths in Eyewitness: Oceans.

Through images, maps and informative text learn about life on the shore to the darkest depths of the ocean floor, including predators and prey, gas and oil exploration, products of the ocean, brave explorers and what the human race can do to help preserve one of the earth's most valuable resources.

Lulu loves the beach. Well, she’s never been there before, but she knows she will love it.

Then she sees the ocean and it is big and loud and rough.

That’s okay — Lulu wanted to build sand castles and fly her kite with Bingo anyway.

But while they are building their sand castle, the sneaky ocean comes in and tries to steal Lulu’s favorite pail. This is a job for Ladybug Girl!

Pack up sandcastle-building supplies, sunscreen, and this take-along activity book!

Little beachcombers are encouraged to discover all the wonders of saltwater oceans and freshwater lakes, from identifying shorebirds to learning about the life found in tide pools to listening to the waves and watching the tides.

When Ms. Frizzle drives the Magic School Bus full speed ahead into the ocean, the class takes a submarine expedition that’s anything but ordinary.

With a well-meaning lifeguard in tow, the class takes a deep breath and learns about hot water vents, coral reefs, plant and animal life on the ocean floor, and more!

Surf’s up for fantastic science fun with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter.

You can complete each in just ten minutes or less, and the clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time.

The projects help you learn about everything from how seaweed can forecast the weather to why waves break as they reach the shore.

You will find most of the required materials already in your toy chest, home, backyard, or around your neighborhood.

A fun classic picture book featuring the beloved Harry the Dirty Dog!

When Harry goes on a visit to the beach, he is mistaken for a sea creature when a big wave covers him with seaweed.

Harry also has to hunt for his family beneath all the similar beach umbrellas. Children will relate to Harry's funny misadventures.

It’s gone! Oliver’s boring blue beach bag is gone. Inside are his clothes, shoes, and a special seashell. All he has left is his beach ball. 

This is a perfect case for Nate the Great and his trusty dog Sludge. But they don’t find many clues in the sand and surf.

What trail should they follow next? Follow the leader to find out!

Glorious illustrations of water, sun, and sky accompany brief, evocative verses, making this a perfect keepsake of a seaside vacation or a striking introduction to the pleasures of a day by the ocean.

Spend a day at the beach, and take in the ocean through the senses of sight, hearing, feeling, taste, and smell in this lively romp through sand and waves. 

Once shore-side, Curious George plays ball, pretends to be a lifeguard, and discovers some very hungry seagulls!

Can George help his friend Betsy overcome her fear of the ocean while saving the day?

We all know the answer. Surf’s up!

Kids will sing, clap, and count their way among pufferfish that puff, gruntfish that grunt and seahorses that flutter, and begin to appreciate life in the ocean. And the art will inspire many a project.

Plus there are several pages of extension ideas for curriculum and art projects as well as resources on the web and elsewhere.

In Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach, Pete is spending the day at the seashore.

He has fun collecting shells and building a sand castle. But the beach is very hot.

There is a whole ocean for Pete to cool off in, but it looks scary.

Pete’s brother, Bob, offers to teach Pete to surf. Will that be enough to help Pete get over his fear of the water?

Norval the Fish is hosting a seaside talkshow for the Fish Channel–and the Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two are Cameracat and Crew!

Among Norval’s special guests are his old friend Clam-I-Am, along with horseshoe and hermit crabs, jellyfish, sand fleas, starfish, seagulls, and miscellaneous mollusks. Seaweed, seaglass, tides, tidal pools, dunes, driftwood, and waves make cameo appearances, too.

Little Critter and his grandmother spend the day at the beach in this funny-and-true picture book about Mercer Mayer’s popular character.

Little Critter is a good helper, even at the beach.

When his grandmother’s hot dog falls in the sand, he washes it off in the ocean. He promises to blow up the inflatable seahorse but needs a little help in the end.

The joys and mishaps of a special summer day with Grandma are all brightened by Little Critter’s sunny disposition.

Told from the dog’s point of view and brought to life through charming and brightly colored woodcut prints, this endearing story of Sally’s vacation is the perfect companion to a child’s own trip to the beach or any new place.